(by Skids Trainer)

You've been down now for almost two days
and the air is really foul.
You're wipin' condensation off the gear
with every available towel.

That destroyer keeps circlin' overhead
droppi' charges now and again.
Ya' gotta' come up pretty soon
but the Cap'n hasn't said when.

It's impossible to light a cigarette
the match goes out that fast.
Not much oxygen left in the boat.
You don't think you're gonna' last.

The C02 canisters have been dispersed.
and the contents emptied about.
Seems that you've not spoken in days
and my God but you just want to shout.

Cork keeps falling into cold food
each time a depth charge explodes close by.
That now becomes the least of your worries
cause you know you're gonna' die.

You're down to using one dim battle lamp
in each of the working and berthing spaces.
You think of places you'd like to be,
and this isn't one of those places.

And then sonar reports "He's movin'away.
It's those words you've been waitin' to hear.
You'll live to fight another day
but you'll never forget that fear.

You may laugh about it and sometimes brag
to those who could not really know.
But with shipmates dear who shared that fear,
the memory remains close at hand.

Mate, I've sailed your boat of yesteryear,
that boat you left behind
and thanks to you and the rest of her crew,
it was in a much greater time.

And then she passed on through the years
to new crews with their tales to tell.
But none so lasting and none to compare
to those days when she took you through hell.

The last of my life is sad indeed,
for that boat is no longer around.
Passed out of service and left first to rust,
she's been cut up and melted down.

But I think she may still be servin' her crews,
but now in a much different way.
For looking back to early this morning,
I think I used her to shave today.

Submariners Take Notice

Some submariners (who underwent submarine training in active service before 1 January 1965) received Nasopharylngeal irradiation therapy as treatment for chronic inflammation of the middle ear (otitis media). Nasopharyingeal irradiation was developed in the 1920's as a new treatment for children with chronic otitis media. The procedure involved routing a radon or radium-tipped applicator through the nasal passage positioning it adjacent to the Eustachian tube for several minutes. Repeated treatments were effective in shrinking inflamed tissues.

As an accepted medical practice in the 1940's it was used to treat Navy submariners who developed a condition known as aerotitis media due to rapid changes in air pressure as well as high rates of upper respiratory track infections. The development of newer treatments and a growing concern for health risks due to radiation led to discontinuance of the treatment in the 1960's.

Submariners who have any condition, including cancer, and their doctor feels it could be because they received Nasopharylngeal irradiation therapy before January 1965, should consider filing a Veteran's Application for Compensation or pension (VA Form Number 21-526) with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

HARRY's NOTE - I hate to cut this section short (just one page), but as you can tell, we are running pretty full in this issue. More of SANTOS' SCUTTLEBUTT in KTB #139 next month.